The Portuguese tactician will set out his troops against the Premier League leaders at Old Trafford as he looks to close an eight-point gap at the top of the table and he was keen to stoke the fire ahead of the clash.

While City have played some fabulous football this season, they have picked up the joint third-highest total of yellow cards (27) – six more than Manchester United – while also picking up two red cards.

Mourinho is convinced that opposite number Pep Guardiola has set his team up to illegally break up opposition attacks with fouls and he called for referee Oliver to be wise to their tricks.

‘They attack with a lot of players and when they lose the ball, they are many times unbalanced in numbers,’ he said.

Guardiola will lead his team to Old Trafford (Picture: AFP/Getty)

‘They have lots of people surrounding the ball area and they have a very strong – and this is a great quality – transition in the next few seconds after they lose the ball and many times, they need what is called a tactical foul.

‘Then it is up to the referee to analyse and to make a decision, but I cannot speak about that.